Welcome return for tennis club after 15 years

Whittlesey Tennis Club secretary Peter Bibb said he was delighted the club was back at its original base

A tennis club is returning to its original home 15 years after it relocated.

Whittlesey Tennis Club had to leave its courts at the Manor Leisure Centre in 2010 after they fell into disrepair after a spate of vandalism.

But the 35-year-old Cambridgeshire club was allowed to return after the facility, run by Freedom Leisure and owned by Fenland District Council, was refurbished.

Secretary Peter Bibb, 66, said he was "delighted" to return.

"We had to play our home matches at various locations in and around Peterborough for the last 15 years," he said.

"And we had to travel 40 minutes to play at home.

"The courts were not fit to play on, but now it's absolutely brilliant. We really want to get more and more members."

Eight-year-old Ruben Smith said he was enjoying seeing the progress of Britain's Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon

Mr Bibb said the club had been "inundated" with new members after setting up free lessons for under-18s, with parents also offered a cut price deal.

He estimated membership had risen by 600% in the weeks since returning to Whittlesey.

New fencing, lighting and fresh lining were all part of a £60,000 renovation of the courts.

The renovation was paid for by the Combined Authority of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Fenland District Council and a Community Action Fund grant

Jan French, a Conservative councillor responsible for parks and open spaces, said they had been in "a state of disrepair for many years".

She added: "Last year we were able to secure funding to carry out a major upgrade to the facilities.

"We're pleased these are now available for people to book and use for tennis, and hope they'll be of service to people for a long time to come."

A Freedom Leisure spokesperson added they were "delighted" to welcome Whittlesey Tennis Club back.